Florida Democrats have one foot in a blue state and the other foot firmly planted in a red one. Despite Sen. Barack Obama’s victory in Washington, Tallahasee looks about the same.

Republicans, who in 1996 took control of the Legislature for the first time since Reconstruction, return to Tallahassee with their iron-clad majorities intact. The Senate stayed the same with 26 Republicans and 14 Democrats, while the House is at 76-44 after a one-seat pickup for the Democrats.

Finger-pointing is not only in full swing, but to my mind it’s appropriate. Fellow P.R. editor Buck and I, both Florida residents, have long questioned Karen Thurman’s leadership as head of the Florida Democratic Party (FDP). Thurman is, after all, subcontracted by Republican lobbyist and campaign consultant Al Cardenas. When we and others cried foul over this conflict of interest, we were shouted down by folks who really like Karen as a person.

We’re sure Thurman is just as nice as can be, but after the disappointing results in Florida races last week, it’s time to take another look at the effectiveness of FDP leadership. Almost everyone blames strategy, or lack thereof.

Leading Democrats are at odds and analyzing whether they relied on a strategy that spread their resources too thin across a host of races, rather than zeroing in on a few winnable ones…

Even in a Democratic year, Florida Republicans had distinct advantages. Republican leaders drew district lines to benefit their candidates. That makes it almost impossible for even well-funded Democrats to succeed, [Senate Democratic leader Al] Lawson said.

Republicans also used their financial clout to keep Democrats on the defensive — what Republican strategist Chip Case described as a strategy of outspending and outlasting the Democrats.

Democrats infused at least $75,000 into what should have been a solidly Democratic seat, District 85 in liberal-leaning Palm Beach County. It turns out, it was solidly Democratic — Joseph Abruzzo won with 58 percent of the vote.

Personally, I wonder about the effect of losing Steve Schale, who previously ran House Victory, the FDP’s House campaign office. Schale stepped down to head the Obama campaign’s successful Florida efforts. Not only does it seem that Schale’s effectiveness masked other problems in the party but, going by the FDP’s web site, his position was never filled. In an election year.

Tell me again what a great leader Karen Thurman is?